A source close to the show's production team apparently claimed that the cult series will not return for a fourth year, despite ITV earlier denying that it had been axed.

"Basically ITV have changed their policy about drama before 9pm in that they've decided they really don't want any, at least not of the quality and cost of Primeval," the insider is quoted as saying.

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They continued: "At the point where we finished the third series, we had every reason to believe we would be doing a fourth. Had we known there was any likelihood of cancellation, clearly we wouldn't have left half the cast marooned up a tree in the distant past. We can understand that some fans might be frustrated by this ending and we're sorry for that."

Addressing future plans for the franchise, the source added: "Some fans may know that there are ongoing talks for both a film and a North American series version of Primeval and if and when those projects come to fruition, we will make every effort to carry on the story in a suitable way."

ITV commented via Twitter: "Thanks for your questions about Primeval. I've checked and can confirm that there are no plans at the present time for it to return to ITV."